HGTV's Carter Oosterhouse links building and sustainability

A builder since he was 13 years old, HGTV host Carter Oosterhouse has dedicated his life to making home design more sustainable. “My philosophy is that as builders, as designers, as artists, it is our moral responsibility to present these green, eco-friendly, efficient options that are out there,” says Oosterhouse as he spoke with Russ White for Greening of the Great Lakes.

As host of “Carter Can” and “Red, Hot & Green” on HGTV, Oosterhouse incorporates a green, eco-friendly mentality in each show. “It's about being efficient. It's about being able to maintain a lifestyle without excessively taking away from the planet,” he says. Many people are intimidated by the “green movement”, and believe that it is difficult to make a big difference in energy consumption. Oosterhouse seeks to show how easy it can be for homeowners to do their part in conserving our limited resources.

Carter Oosterhouse at MSUSustainability ambassador, HGTV star and Traverse City native Carter Oosterhouse keynoted the Michigan State University Alumni Association's 2012 Kaleidoscope Day for Women.

There are many manageable things homeowners can do to not only increase sustainability in their homes, but to save money, too. Beyond energy-saving appliances and costly eco-friendly tools such as solar energy panels, Oosterhouse explains that one way people can be more efficient in their homes is by shrinking their monthly bills. This can be done by ensuring no energy is going to waste by doing things like having proper insulation in your home, as well as changing your air filter every six months. “It's about little things in your home that you can do to save money, be more efficient, and not overusing the resources that we have to produce energy.” says Oosterhouse.

On his television shows, Oosterhouse has a platform to educate the masses about building in a way that is environmentally-minded. “It started becoming my mission to build, design, and work without taking so many resources away,” says Oosterhouse. This dedication afforded him a position as the spokesperson for the Council for Responsible Energy, as well as a board position with the Environmental Media Association.

Oosterhouse is confident that the green movement is here to stay. “My feeling is that the next generation is already going to have that understanding of being sustainable,” he says.